NASA Postpones Spacewalk, Considers Early ISS Crew Return After Medical Incident

NASA has postponed a planned spacewalk and announced potential early return procedures for Crew-11 aboard the International Space Station after a crew member required medical attention. The incident occurred on January 7, 2025, prompting NASA to halt Thursday's scheduled 6.5-hour extravehicular activity where astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman were set to prepare power channels for new solar array installation.

The affected astronaut, whose identity remains undisclosed per medical privacy protocols, is in stable condition according to NASA officials. "These are situations NASA and our partners train for and prepare to execute safely," stated an agency spokesperson in an official communication. The medical emergency triggered contingency planning that includes potentially shortening Crew-11's mission duration.

Crew-11 arrived at the ISS on August 2, 2025, for a planned six-month rotation. The team consists of NASA astronauts Fincke (a veteran of nine spacewalks) and Cardman (who would have undertaken her first spacewalk), along with Japan's Kimiya Yui and Russia's Oleg Platonov. Their early departure would disrupt the station's carefully orchestrated crew rotation schedule, with Crew-12 scheduled to launch in mid-February.

NASA emphasized crew safety as the driving factor in decision-making. "Safely conducting our missions is our highest priority," the spokesperson noted, adding that the agency is "actively evaluating all options" for Crew-11's return timeline. This includes assessing operational impacts on ISS activities and determining whether the station's current complement of three additional crew members—NASA's Christopher Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergey Mikayev—can maintain essential operations.

Medical contingencies in space present unique challenges due to isolation and limited resources. NASA maintains extensive protocols for in-orbit medical care, including telehealth capabilities and emergency return procedures. The agency will announce a target return date in coming days as evaluations continue.

This incident highlights the complex risk management inherent in space operations. While modifications to crew rotations are extremely rare, NASA's response demonstrates the priority placed on astronaut wellbeing over mission schedules. The postponed power system upgrade work will be rescheduled pending crew availability and operational readiness.